Collapsible structural unit



Oct. 18, 1932. c. J. O BRIEN GOLLAPSIBLE STRUCTURAL UNIT Filed March 4, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet Oct. 18, 1932. c. J. OBRIEN COLLAPSIBLE STRUCTURAL UNIT Filed March 4. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UNITE Patented Oct. 18, 1932 sr ss CHESTER J. OBRIEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNGB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T TCALUMET' STEEL COMPANY, OF GHIGAGO, ILLINOIS, A CGRPORATION OF DELAWARE.

GOLLAPSIBLE STRUCTURAL UNIT Application filed. March 4, 1931. Serial No. 520,086.

My invention relates to a collapsible structural unit and is concerned primarily with devices of this type which are utilized as reinforcing and supporting members in concrete constructions. a

One-object of myinvention is to devise a structural unit composed of parts which reinforce the shearlng and dlagonal tensional strength of the beam or joist with'which used 'and whichmay be properly spaced at the place'of manufacture according to the design of the beam, or generally the place where used, and maintained in this spaced relation until used, the arrangement of the several parts being such as to permit a collapsing of the unit to assume a substantially folded or overlapping conditionto facilitate shipping and handling. I l

A further object is to provide a unit of the character indicated which is so constructed and arranged as to eliminate any necessity for welding or other rigid types of securement of the principal reinforcing and spacing'meinbers, requiring only a simple connection of the parts which may be readily disassembled whenever desired.

A further object is to provide a collapsible structural unit composed ofreinforcing elements of the so-called stirrup type in which the spacing bars therefor have a loose connection with the stirrups and are themselves maintained'in predetermined positions in order to facilitate collapsing, the lower bar being held above the bottom of the unit to permit the ready insertion of the tension beam bars when the unit is placed in a form, and the upper bar being adapted to provide a support for the cross bars which reinforce the slabs in the monolithic type of construction. 7

These and further objects of my invention will be set forth in the following specification, reference being had to theaccoinpanying drawings, and the novel means by which said objects are efiectuated will pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa section of a concrete floor-construction of the monolithic type, my iIn-,

roved structural unit bein 'shown as em- .factory bond with the concrete.

be definitely bedded in the beam or joist portion of the floor.

' Fig. 2 is a section along the line 22 in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end View of my improved structural unit as it appears in Fig. 1. F ig. 4 is a side view of the unit looking in the directionof the arrow 4 in Fig. 3. v

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section along the line 55 in Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the manneriofcon nectingthe spacing bars and stirrups of the unit. v

n Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the unit when occupying a collapsed position, the unit being viewed in the direction of the arrow 6 in Fig. 4c.

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing a modified form of unit, the particular difference residing in the manner of vertically supporting the spacing bars in any given position. Fig. 8 is a side view of the unit shown in Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrow 8 in said figure.

Fig. 9 is an end View of another modifiedform of the unit showing still another Way of vertically supporting the spacing bars.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the numeral 10 designates the intermediate stirrup members of the unit which are formed of bars having a predetermined diameter and shaped generally into the form of a U having laterally extending portions 11 at the ends of each limb for the purpose of providing a satis- Itis important in units of this character to space the stirrups 10 according to a scheme dependent upon the design and lading of the beam and it is further desirable to accomplish this spacing by an arrangement which may not only be positioned at the placeof manufacture, but will also insure the maintenance of this spacing during subsequent handling until the unit'is placed in the form prior to the pouring of the concrete. The instru- 10, the unit'also comprisesend stirrups 12 I mentalities by which these several results are which are generally similar to the stirrups 10, but whose vertical limbs extend downwardly below the lower ends of said stirrups and are reversely bent to provide feet 13 which rest and provide a support on the bottom of the form, as hereinafter described, and the feet of each end stirrup 12 is connected by a horizontally extending portion 14 which is located substantially in the same plane as the similar portions 15 of each in termediate stirrup 10. One limb of each stirrup 12 on the same side of the unit receives a short sleeve 16, generally formed of simple steel tubing which is slipped down said limb p ior to the forming of the bonding book 11, and is moved downwardly along said limb until the curvature of the foot 18 prevents further movement. A spacing bar 17, preferably of channel section, is then rested on the upper ends of the sleeves 12 against the inner side of the indicated limbs of the end stirrups 12 and is then secured in the position just mentioned by means of a plurality of tabs 18 which are cut in the web of the bar 17 and bent laterally therefrom to embrace the adjacent limb portions of the end and intermediate stirrups. Prior to being so positioned, it will be understood that the tab-s 18 will have been so located as to determine the spacing of the several stirrups in the unit from each other, dependent upon the design of the beam, and that when the several tabs are bent around the limbs of the stirrups, the nature of the connection is such that the several limbs may rotate within the tabs for a purpose hereinafter explained.

A second sleeve or length of tubing 15) is then slipped over the indicated limb of each end stirrup 12, after which a second spacing bar 20 is rested thereon and connected to the several stirrups of the unit in the manner above described. On one side of the unit, therefore, there will thus be located spacing bars 17 and 20 which determine the relation of the stirrups of the unit to each other, as well as permitting the collapsing of the unit as hereinafter described, the spacing bars being further definitely fixed wit-l relation to each other by the sleeves 16 and 19. On the opposite side of the unit a third spacing bar 21 may be positioned in the manner above described, so far, as the employment of the tabs 18 is concerned, and utilizing sleeves 30 which are slipped over the vertical limbs of the end stirrups in the indicated side of the unit, the lower ends of said sleeves lying substantially in the same plane as the corresponding ends of the sleeves 12. The precise vertical position of the bar 21 is of slight importance, although it is usually placed so as to better facilitate the collapsing of the unit.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the position assumed by the unit when it is )laccd in a form prior to the pouring of the concrete, but this position is not suitable for shipment owing to its requirement for excessive space and difiiculty of handling. The unit is accordingly collapsed into the position shown in Fig. 6, in which the stirrups of the unit are folded over into overlapping position with respect to each other. The achievement of this condition is, of course, made possible by the relation betwen the spacing bars and the stirrups, as well as by the fact that the spacing bars are maintained in'fixed relation with respect to each other, so that they cannot assume canted positions which would tend to bind on the respective stirrups and prevent an easy collapsin of the unit.

Referring to l igs. 1 and 2 which show a typical arrangement of concrete construction with which my unit may be employed, the numeral 22 represents the customary form whose profile determines the underside of the beam and slab 2 1. The unit is placed in the form 22 with the feet 13 resting upon the bottom of the form, after which the custom ary reinforcing bars 25 and 26which resist the horizontal and diagonal tension stresses in the beam may be placed within the unit to rest upon the horizontal portions 1% and '15 of the several stirrups. In this connection, it may be pointed out that one advantage in the employment of the sleeve 16 is the prevention of the dropping of the spacing bar 17 downwardly to such an extent as to interfere with the proper positioning of the bars 25 and 26. Also, it may be noted that theupper spacing bar 20 functions very efficiently as a support for the cross-reenforcing bars 27 which extend through the slab 24, as shown in Fig. 1. v

The modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8 differs from the type above described only in the means which is utilized to support the spacing bars of the unit. In the present instance it is contemplatedthat shortchannel lengths 28 may be welded or otherwise secured to the end stirrups of the unit in such relation to each other as will secure a positioning of the spacing bars which is comparable to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In Fig. 9 is illustrated still another means of supporting the spacing bars and this arrangement takes the form of laterally disposed bends 29 which are formed directly in the limbs of the stirrups in appropriate locations with respect to each other.

While I have shown one set of elements and combinations thereof for eifectuating my improved structural unit, it will be understood that the same is intended for purpose of illustration only and in no wise to restrict my device to the exact forms and arrangements shown, for many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

" swivelly engaging with said members for I claim:

a plurality of reinforcing members, means extending the length of the unit and hay ng integrally formed devices for substantially maintaining the same in a definite spaced relation, and means for holding said first named means in definite positions endwise of said members.

2. A collapsible structural unit comprising a plurality of reinforcing members, means extending the length of the unit and having integrally formed devices for substantiallyswivelly engaging with said members for maintaining the same in a definite spaced relation, and means loosely mounted on sald members for holding said first named means in definite positions endwise of said members.

3. A collapsible structural unit comprising a plurality of upright stirrups, longitudinal bars having tab-like formations bendable around said stirrups for supporting the same in spaced relation, and means for holding said bars in definite positions endwise of said stirrups.

4. A collapsible structural unit comprising a plurality of upright stirrups, longitudinal bars 7 having tab-like formations bendable around said stirrups for supporting the same in spaced relation, and detachable means for holding said bars in definite positions endwise of said stirrups.

5. 'A collapsible structural unit comprising a plurality of upright stirrups, longitudinal bars loosely connected to said stirrups for supporting the same in spaced relation, and sleeves loosely mounted on the end stir rups of the unit for holding said bars in definite positions endwise of said stirrups.

6. A collapsible structural unit comprising a plurality of upright stirrups, longitudinal bars loosely connected to said stirrups for supporting the same in spaced relation, the end stirrups of the unit having downwardly projecting portions for supporting the unit on the bottom of a form, and sleeves loosely mounted on said end stirrups for holding said bars in definite positions endwise of said stirrups. V

7 A collapsible structural unit comprising a plurality of upright stirrups, longitudinal bars having integral tabs cut out of the body thereof and bendable around the vertical limbs of said stirrups to substantially swivelly engage therewith and maintain the same in a definite spaced relation, and means for holding said barsin definite positions endwise of said stirrups.

8. A collapsible structural unit comprising a plurality of upright stirrups, channel bars having integral tabs cut out of the webs thereof and bendable around the vertical limbs of said stirrups to maintain the same in a definite spaced relation, and means for A holding said barsin definite positions endwise of said stirrups.

9. A collapsible structural unit comprising a pluralityuof upright stirrups, longitudinal bars having integral tabs cut out of the body thereof and bendable around the vertical limbs of said stirrups to maintain'the same in a definite spaced relation, and sleeves looselymounted on the end stirrups of the unit for holding saidbars in definite positions endwise-of said stirrups. r

10. A collapsible structural unit comprising a plurality of upright stirrups, channel bars having integral tabs cut out of the-Webs thereof and bendable around the vertical limbs of said stirrups to maintain the same in a definite spaced relation, and sleeves loosely mounted on the end stirrups of the unit for holding said bars in definite positlons endwise of said stirrups. V V 11. A collapsible structural unit comprising a plurality of upright stirrups, longitudinal bars having tab-like formations bendable around the vertical limbs of said stirrups to maintain the same in a definite spaced relation, the end stirrups of the unit having downwardly projecting portions for supporting the unit on the bottom of a form, and means for holding said bars in definite positrons endwise of said stirrups.

12. A collapsible structural unit comprismg a plurality of upright stirrups, longitudinal bars having tab-like formations bendable around rupsto maintain the same in a definite spaced relation, the end stirrups of the unit extending below the lower ends of the remaining stirrups and each having a reverse bend for supporting the unit on the bottom of a form, and means for holding said bars in definite positions endwise of said stirrups.

13. A collapsible structural unit comprising a plurality of upright stirrups, longitudinal bars loosely connected to said stirrups for supporting the same in spaced relation, the end stirrups of the unit extending below the lower ends of the remaining stirrups and each having a reverse bend to provide feet for supporting the unit on the bottom of a form, and sleeves loosely mounted on said end the vertical limbs of said stirstirrups for holding said bars in definite 7 ing a pair of skeleton sides adapted for relative shifting endwise of the unit, each side being composed of a plurality of spaced bars, means connecting the bars across the Width of the unit, longitudinal bars having integral tabs cut out of the body thereof and bendable around said spaced bars to maintain the same in a definite spaced relation,

and means for holding said longitudinal bars in definite positions endwise of said sides.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name. 7

CHESTER J. 'OBRIEN. 

